A Guide to the Amphibians
and Reptiles of California

Click on a picture for a larger view

Commonly Encountered California Snakes

Check the following pictures first if you are trying to identify a snake you have found in California. I have received many emails asking me to identify all of species of snakes shown below, so these are either the snakes most commonly encountered in California, or those that are the most difficult to identify for the novice. Always keep in mind that most snakes vary in appearance, and a snake can look much different in motion than it does in still photos (where it is often coiled up unnaturally to fit in the picture better.) Don't only consider the color of a snake - it can be lighter or darker than seen in these or in other pictures, and the pattern can also vary. If you do not find your snake here, try going back to the Snake Identification page. Feel free to email a picture to me along with information about where you saw it (city and county) and what it was doing.
Gophersnake This is the snake I am most often asked to identify. It is very common in most of the state. Not Dangerous to Humans



		Striped Gophersnakes are sometimes found in Northern California	Movie
This harmless snake is common throughout California, and is active during the day. Often found in yards and gardens.

Coachwhip (Racer) Common in the desert and southern California coastal region. Sometimes enters suburban yards. Not Dangerous to Humans



			Movie
This harmless snake is common in southern California and less common in the San Joaquin Valley and foothills, and is active during the day. Color can be brown, tan, black, or brick red.

Sharp-tailed Snake Many people find these tiny snakes on their property in Northern California and in the Sierra Nevada foothills, often while digging in leaf litter or under rocks or other surface objects. Not Dangerous to Humans



Juveniles are tiny.	Juveniles and sometimes adults are often bright reddish.	The belly is light with black bars.	Movie
This harmless and secretive snake is common along most of the north and central coast and in the Sierra Nevada foothills. It is often found in backyards under debris, and rarely seen active day or night.

California Kingsnake Common throughout the state. Most have bands or rings around the body, but some have stripes. They can be brown or black with white or yellow bands or stripes. Not Dangerous to Humans



			Movie
This harmless snake is common throughout most of California. It is active day and night. It is variable in appearance and can black or brown, and banded or striped.

Western Racer Common throughout most of the state. Very fast moving and mostly solid gray, greenish, or brown in color. The young appear completely different from adults, with a pattern of dark blotches similar to a Gophersnake. Not Dangerous to Humans



	Juveniles are patterned		Movie
This harmless snake is common throughout most of California excluding the deserts, and is active during the day.

Striped Racer or Whipsnake Common throughout most of the state. Long and very fast moving with light stripes on the sides (but not on the back.) Often confused with gartersnakes which also have stripes on the sides. Not Dangerous to Humans



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This harmless snake is common along most of the coast and coast ranges and in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Often mistaken for a gartersnake, this slender, fast snake is active during the day.

Ring-necked Snake Common throughout much of the state. Gray with a light ring around the neck. Bright orange or yellow on the belly and under the end of the tail. Not Dangerous to Humans



			Movie
This harmless little snake is common but secretive. Usually discovered hiding underneath surface objects in moist areas, but sometimes seen crawling in daylight.

Western Rattlesnake Common throughout much of the state, but less common in suburban areas. Has a large body with a large triangular head and a blunt tail with a rattle on the end. This snake is often heard before it is seen, but it does not always rattle. Venomous and Potentially Dangerous!



		Juveniles do not yet have a rattle, but they do have a yellow "button" at the end of the tail.	Movie
This dangerous snake is common in many habitats throughout the state, including the mountains and Great Basin deserts, but not in the southern deserts.

Gartersnakes (Several species) Common throughout much of the state. The head is slightly wider than the body. Most species of gartersnake have two or three light stripes, but some have only side stripes and sometimes the stripes are faint. Not Dangerous to Humans






	Movie	Movie	Movie

These harmless snakes are common in many habitats throughout the state, typically in areas near water.

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